A shining silver-colored cocktail service, with gleaming, reflective surfaces. Centered on the square tray is a tall, cylindrical cocktail shaker, with a smaller cylindrical cap and vertical ridges on the body. Circling the shaker are six stemmed cups with short, cylindrical bowls, about the same size as the shaker cap; long slender stems; and flat round bases. The interiors of the cups are brushed, matte metal. The square tray is like a picture frame, with an inset area and ridged, beveled edges stepping down to the level of the table.

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See more objects with the tag geometric, brass, chrome, barware.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1935	Work on this object began.
2016	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2017	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Manhattan Cocktail Service

This is a Cocktail service. It was designed by Norman Bel Geddes and manufactured by Revere Copper and Brass Company. It is dated 1935. Its medium is chrome-plated brass. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Both the name and the design of Norman Bel Geddes’ “Manhattan” cocktail service evoke modernity and the metropolis. The service was designed for Revere Copper and Brass Incorporated in 1934. The shaker’s cylindrical form is ribbed allowing for considerable ease when in use; particularly for the condensation that would form on its chromium-plated surface. The sleek form of the shaker’s cylindrical cap is also used in reverse as the form for the cocktail goblets’ bowls. The stepped-form of the tray mimics the setback design of skyscrapers from the 1920s and 1930s, which was due to the 1916 setback ordinance, which regulated the height of the New York buildings at the street line.[1] Similar to other cocktail services of the period, Geddes’ penchant for emphasizing form rather than ornament is key to early American modernist industrial design. When prohibition ended in December of 1933, the demand and interest for barware such as this cocktail service soared, and manufacturers were quick to create barware for a wide-range of consumers. The cocktail set’s chromium-plated finish has the highly reflective surface of polished silver, but the metallic color gives a modernist aesthetic that matches the skyscraper set-back aesthetic that spoke to the wallet as well as personal taste.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

Object ID #18475693
cast silver-plated metal.
Gift of Rodman A. Heeren.
1971-92-1-a,b

Gaiety Cocktail Shaker With Lid And Strainer

Gaiety Cocktail Shaker With Lid And Strainer
metal (chrome plated), enamel.
Gift of Mel Byars.
1991-59-130-a/c

Vase
glazed earthenware.
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2015-41-5

Our curators have highlighted 13 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

A dark brown tiered semi-circular burlwood presentation case. On the upper tier are four large molded-glass flacons, reminiscent in shape of whisky liquor bottles with elaborate glass stoppers. Each flacon is labeled with a different colored semi-circular label, from left to right: burgundy, pale orange, terracotta and black, with text detailing its scent and the maker. The text from left to right reads [BITTERSWEET, SWEET, DRY, MY OWN] in capital letters in black on the first bottle, white on the next, gold on the third and white on the last. Each bottle has the words [COCKTAIL / JEAN PATOU] printed in gold capital letters. On the lower tier are six smaller rectangular molded-glass flacons with metal tops that are also labeled with different colored labels, from left to right: violet, indigo, mint green, canary yellow, red-orange and scarlet. Each bottle contains text that is illegible and an art-deco style number in black: one through seven missing the number five, which is positioned in front of the case. At the bottom of the presentation case are two semi-circular drawers that protrude out from either side, each containing a book of small paper labels. Additional accessories are found arond the front of the case including a gold stopper, more small paper labels, a pencil, a measuring tube, the number five small glass flacon with yellow label, and two small pipettes.

Cocktail Bar Perfume Presentation
presentation case: burlwood; four larger flacons: molded glass; seven smaller....
Christie Mayer Lefkowith Collection.
69.2016.3

Cocktail Set
silver-plated brass and “vitrolite” glass.
Lent by Milwaukee Art Museum, Purchase, with funds from Demmer Charitable....
45.2016.1a/h

Flask
sterling silver, cork.
Lent by Brooklyn Museum, Modernism Benefit Fund, 1990.10a-b.
33.2016.3

Its dimensions are

H x diam. (a,b): 33 × 8.3 cm (13 in. × 3 1/4 in.) H x W x D (c): 2.2 × 36.8 × 29.2 cm (7/8 × 14 1/2 × 11 1/2 in.) H x diam. (d/j): 11.4 × 6.4 cm (4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

Manhattan Cocktail Service; Designed by Norman Bel Geddes (American, 1893–1958); Manufactured by Revere Copper and Brass Company; chrome-plated brass; H x diam. (a,b): 33 × 8.3 cm (13 in. × 3 1/4 in.) H x W x D (c): 2.2 × 36.8 × 29.2 cm (7/8 × 14 1/2 × 11 1/2 in.) H x diam. (d/j): 11.4 × 6.4 cm (4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-61-a/i

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Energizing the Everyday: Gifts From the George R. Kravis II Collection.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/BLns8/
Accession Number 2018-22-61-a/i
Object ID 404734447